I'm in a mad dash to put myself back into an economical daily driver as the car I've been driving daily since I wrecked my old Valiant is eating about $10 in gas a day.

My new '67 Valiant has a dead engine and the stock column shifted 3 speed stick that is absolutely a disaster to try and find neutral in.

My question: What are the thoughts on these three speeds? Anything I should be aware of? Is it worth buying a floor shift conversion and using this transmission until I can come up with the four speed stuff?

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Scott - waywardgarage.com
Why is the rum always gone?

My '67 Valiant only had about 45k miles on it so the column and transmission were in quite good shape. Neutral was easy to find, but the RPM drop from 2nd to 3rd is awful with the A903. If adjustments and minor repairs don't make it easier to find neutral and make shifting acceptable I wouldn't go any further with the 3-speed. I'd go automatic before I put any kind of money in the manual 3-speed.

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Joshua

Vote # 2 ... find a different transmission.
The "non-syncro" first gear is a real PITA in my book. These transmissions are no fun... even when they work right.
DD

Vote #3 drove a column shift nash metropolitan hated it lol

Kev

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Adjust the 3 speed so it works.....drive it till you get a 4 or 5 speed.

The floor shift can be worse than the column.

I put a 5 speed in my Valaint because my kids who were learning to drive at the time could not manage the 3/tree

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Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

Non-synchro 1st gear?

I drove one of these column shifted three speeds years ago, it usually worked fine but would occasionally hang up between gears and I'd have to get out of the car, usually in an intersection, and pop the linkage free with a screw driver. I eventually pulled it for a four speed.

I was thinking one of those cheapie 3 speed manual floor shifter kits would alleviate the worn out column shifter problems until I can get replacement stuff for the stuff I broke.

Oh, I forget to mention, the accident broke three chunks off the bellhousing where the mounting holes on the engine side of the bellhousing are, pulled the threads out of one of the lower bolt holes on the tranny side, broke an upper ear off the tranny and bent the input shaft. I wrecked that car HARD!!

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Scott - waywardgarage.com
Why is the rum always gone?

Having driven the column shifted '68 Valiant, and had the floor shifted A-230 synchro box...I'd vote for floor shifted A-230...that puts you one step closer for a later swap to a 4 speed/5speed...

-D.Idiot

Bingo! My Duster never made a full on 1/4mi pass because of the column shift. I need to finish the 833OD swap.

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'72 Duster 198 stock cam, 3:23's

93 D350 Cummins THD Maxfuel 35mpg parts to hit 400hp+ Suncoast Cat2 A518, converter DDP Stage III injectors 62/64 HX35, 3 piece manifold, 4" Diamond Eye, Gear Venders OD. Stage I street/tow PDD head on order.

HAHAHA!!!!

My duster never makes it to OD in the 1/4 even with 4.56's...





-D.Idiot

I made 2-3 passes. Shifter hung up in first. I had made many 1/8mi passes. If it hit 3rd in the 1/8th it didn't change the ET.

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'72 Duster 198 stock cam, 3:23's

93 D350 Cummins THD Maxfuel 35mpg parts to hit 400hp+ Suncoast Cat2 A518, converter DDP Stage III injectors 62/64 HX35, 3 piece manifold, 4" Diamond Eye, Gear Venders OD. Stage I street/tow PDD head on order.

The shifter bushings are probably worn.

my uncle lefty,,,yea he only had left arm...lost right arm as teen....drove a 53 ply 3 on tree,sucide knob...would reach thru wheel to shift....

Okay, I got to take a really good look at everything when I was pulling the engine this weekend.

It appears the rubber in the shifter linkages has completely disintegrated.

Are these bushings something a local parts house would have or are they a specialty item? I assume someone here has replaced them before.

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Scott - waywardgarage.com
Why is the rum always gone?

I replaced mine just before the race. Re adjusted the linkage. Still hung up.

You are trying to polish a turd.

I drove a '77 Chevy truck, '61 Ford truck. Same crap. Bad design. I dated a girl with a 4 door Triumph that had a 4 speed on the column.........

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'72 Duster 198 stock cam, 3:23's

93 D350 Cummins THD Maxfuel 35mpg parts to hit 400hp+ Suncoast Cat2 A518, converter DDP Stage III injectors 62/64 HX35, 3 piece manifold, 4" Diamond Eye, Gear Venders OD. Stage I street/tow PDD head on order.

I have the three on the tree non synchro first in my 66 valiant. shifts like a champ and neutral is easy to find and I race with it. Had a problem with it once years ago got stuck in first, turned out to be the collar that limits the throw had moved. I readjusted it and havent had a problem since.

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1966 Plymouth Valiant, 225, 3 on the tree, 8 1/4 3.21 sure grip, hyperpac, holley 650dp, holset h1c